Power supply unit of aerosol generation device

Abstract

A power supply unit of an aerosol generation device includes: a power supply; a heating unit connector to which a heating unit configured to heat an aerosol source by consuming power supplied from the power supply is connected; an external power supply connector connectable to an external power supply; and an IC including a first switching element. The first switching element connects the power supply to the external power supply connector or the heating unit connector, the IC includes a terminal connectable to a second switching element provided outside the IC, and the IC connects the second switching element connected to the terminal and the first switching element in parallel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power supply unit of an aerosol generation device, comprising:
 a power supply;   a heating unit connector to which a heating unit configured to heat an aerosol source by consuming power supplied from the power supply is connected;   an external power supply connector connectable to an external power supply; and   an integrated circuit (IC) including a first switching element, wherein the first switching element connects the power supply to the external power supply connector or the heating unit connector,   the IC includes a terminal connectable to a second switching element provided outside the IC, and   the IC connects the second switching element connected to the terminal and the first switching element in parallel.   
     
     
         2 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first switching element connects the power supply and the external power supply connector to constitute a charging power supply system for charging the power supply with power of the external power supply supplied via the external power supply connector.   
     
     
         3 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first switching element constitutes a step-down circuit that steps down the power of the external power supply and outputs the stepped-down power to the power supply in the charging power supply system.   
     
     
         4 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a control device configured to control the first switching element and the second switching element connected to the terminal, wherein   the control device operates only one of the first switching element and the second switching element when power for charging the power supply is equal to or lower than a first threshold, and operates both the first switching element and the second switching element when the power for charging the power supply is larger than the first threshold.   
     
     
         5 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first switching element controls a current value or a voltage value of power for charging the power supply in the charging power supply system.   
     
     
         6 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a control device configured to control the first switching element and the second switching element connected to the terminal, wherein   the control device operates only one of the first switching element and the second switching element when the power for charging the power supply is equal to or lower than a first threshold, and operates both the first switching element and the second switching element when the power for charging the power supply is larger than the first threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the power supply unit charges the power supply with first power when a temperature of the power supply is equal to or lower than a threshold, and charges the power supply with second power larger than the first power when the temperature of the power supply is higher than the threshold, and   the control device operates only one of the first switching element and the second switching element when the power supply is charged with the first power, and operates both the first switching element and the second switching element when the power supply is charged with the second power.   
     
     
         8 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the power supply unit charges the power supply with first power when an output voltage of the power supply is equal to or lower than a threshold, and charges the power supply with second power larger than the first power when the output voltage of the power supply is higher than the threshold, and   the control device operates only one of the first switching element and the second switching element when the power supply is charged with the first power, and operates both the first switching element and the second switching element when the power supply is charged with the second power.   
     
     
         9 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first switching element connects the power supply and the heating unit connector to constitute a heating unit power supply system for supplying power of the power supply to the heating unit.   
     
     
         10 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the first switching element constitutes a step-up circuit that steps up the power of the power supply and outputs the stepped-up power to the heating unit in the heating unit power supply system.   
     
     
         11 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a control device configured to control the first switching element and the second switching element connected to the terminal, wherein   the control device operates only one of the first switching element and the second switching element when power supplied to the heating unit is relatively small, and operates both the first switching element and the second switching element when the power supplied to the heating unit is relatively large.   
     
     
         12 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the power supply unit supplies first power to the heating unit during a predetermined period immediately after startup and supplies second power smaller than the first power to the heating unit after the elapse of the predetermined period, and   the control device operates both the first switching element and the second switching element when the first power is supplied to the heating unit, and operates only one of the first switching element and the second switching element when the second power is supplied to the heating unit.   
     
     
         13 . The power supply unit of an aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the IC further includes a control device configured to control the first switching element.   
     
     
         14 . A power supply unit of an aerosol generation device, comprising:
 a power supply;   a heating unit connector to which a heating unit configured to heat an aerosol source by consuming power supplied from the power supply is connected;   an external power supply connector connectable to an external power supply; and   an integrated circuit (IC) including a first switching element, wherein   the first switching element connects the power supply to the external power supply connector or the heating unit connector,   the IC includes a terminal connectable to a second switching element provided outside the IC, and   the terminal is provided such that the second switching element connectable to the terminal and the first switching element are connected in parallel.